The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-31
THE FAIRCHILD RECEPTION.
An Enthusiastic Welcome from Grand
ArmyVeteransto Their Commander.
Speeches and Songs Heard By Thousands in
Honor of the Distinguished Visitor-Gen.
Harrison's Eloquent Address.

Tomlinson Hall was filled last night at IL
camp FIRE and reception provided by the Grand
Army Of the Republic for General Farchild, the
national commander Of the order. There were
about 1000 persons present. Rev. Ira j. Chase,
department commander for Indiana, presiding.
General Fairchild's appearance upon the plat
form to take his seat was the occasion of
hearty cheer OF welcome. Occupying seats upon
the platform were General Harrison. General
McGnnis, General Bennett Colonel John Lever
ing, of Lafayette, General Carnahan, Colonel I.
N. Walker. Colonel Foster, DR.. A. r. Tucker,
Captain Baltzly, of Seymour, and others. The
Womans' Relief Corps headed by the president,
Mrs. Flora Wuischner, were also invited
to take seats there. Among those
ladies were Mrs. Sara P. Foster, OF Fort Wayne.
Mrs. Lizzie Spahr. Mrs. Cassie Robbins Mrs. L.
May Wheeler and others. The Mendelssohn
Society furnished the vocal music of the occa
sion, but the When Band opened with patriotic
medley, in one part of which was fre-cracker
imitation of the discharge Of musketry suf6-
GENTLY realistic to cause great enthusiasm
among the veterans. The entire audience rose
while the department chaplain. Rev. A. W.
Lamport gave the invocation. The Mendels-
sohn Society then sung the Battle Cry Of
Freedom" which was received with great ap
plause.
Department Commander Chase made a brief
speech. He said ''It seems that every time we
have gathering of this kind we appreciate
more and more our privileges and opportunities.
We are never surprised at anything Indianapolis
a. IN n he A
of the Republic She has never disappointed
single gathering in the years gone by, and we
had no fear for her to night Lafayette gave
General Fairchild al overfowing welcome and
we have pledged Richmond to do SO. also, and
| we know we shall not be disappointed in the
patriotic cons and daughters of Indiana" Mrs.
| i. N. Walker sung the Battle Hymn of the Re-
public, mime eyes have seen the glory of the
coming of the Lord" The deep bass voices of
| the veterans joined the Mendelssohn Society in
the chorus, and there was many kindlng eye
and flushed face as the grand old anthem
brought back the days of march and battle.
AS General Fairchild rose to speak he was
heartily cheered. He said: Ladies' and Com
| rades-Had there been any doubt in my mind
| as to the estimation in which the Grand Army
| of the Republic is held by citizens of Indanap-
oils they would be solved by this view of nearly
| Ave thousand people. 1t tells me the comrades
| of the G. A. r. in indianapolis have got into
there. My travels. during my term of Office.
| have led me into almost every department in
! the United States have looked into the faces
hundreds Of thousands of friends and
| comrades during the last six months, and
| l find everywhere that members OF the Grand
Army are of such a character as to reflect
| credit upon themselves and the community
| in which they live l am iourneying toward the
| home Of an old comrade my way to Rich
mond. General Sol Meredith. man whom
loved dearly. and my visit. calling up old mem
cries and old recollectons, will be a melancholy
| one. l thought while here would look for some
members of the Third Indiana Cavalry. One
| man want to find especially-a man who traded
horses with me in 1862. lCries of 'Spahr,
| Spahr." and laughter. want to compliment
| that sharp Hoosier who got my horse with a
good title and slowed away $50 Of good green
backs leaving me a horse he had eobbed ten
days before. The members OF the Grand Army
every are respectable decent, well-ordered
| citizens | will put them for general
men you find on Gods footstool.
| And they are not lot of dependent paupers or
raiders upon the United States treasury; they
| are not mere treasury bummers, but are honest.
| Woodworking citizens. This order is 100000
] strong. and before God and man we say old
comrade shall, as he goes down the hill of life.
suffer the pangs of hunger; ne shall not suffer
| when physical disability overtakes him. Aims
| giving by our members amounts to many hun
| dreds of thousands every year. Tens OF thou
| sands of men temporarily relieved. but there
are many men IN our army and IN the old Union
| army who have fallen by the wayside by
| reason of sickness and disability not the
result of vicious habits, carelessness or shift
| lessness. We vow they shall receive from some
! source bread to put into their mouths every day
| in the year Yes. bread and butter We have
vowed no old soldier shall oarken the door of a
| poor-hous as pauper. nor shall his widow or
| orphan. We ask the United States to give a
pension Of not less than s12 per month to every
man who entered the army and received an hon
orable discharge. and served at least three
months. when that man shall have become SO far
disabled physically as to be unable
to support himself by, bis daily labor.
are men who desire another system of pensions,
but they agree to this anyway. Is that asking
too much2 Does that make this body of men
you see before you q part and-parcel OF a great
band of treasury raiders and treasury bummersl
You know that in 1864 and 1865 scores Of youne
men just of sufficient age and older men with
wives and children dependent upon them. wen,
into the army You know o many OF those men men.
Of the worldf l went to the rec
ords in my own State of Wisconsin,
and took regiment at hazard, and large ma
jority Of the men came from farms. aud some
were skilled mechanics, SONS students and
school-teachers. / looked at the record of an
other regiment Four hundred and fifty five
men sent by the State of Wisconsin. from Octo
ber 1864, to February, 1865. OF shat 455 16s
were killed, wounded and died OF disease. One
hundred and sixty-nine casualties in 455-s
pretty good record That regiment was com
manded by Edward S. Bragg, late member o.
Congress from my State"
The speaker concluded with telling a number
of army incidents, and giving the meaning o.
loyalty as taught by the G. A r.
The next speaker was Gen. Ben Harrison. A.
he came forward to speak he received with
roar after roar of applause, it being some tim,
} before the enthusiasm subsidized sufficiently t
allow him to proceed. He said:
Ladies and Gentlemen-We are here to-nigh
. to receive and to honor for he is worthy O
honor. that man who has been selected by tn,
, free SURFACES of your representatives In nation
al convention assembled to be the commander
: in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic o
} the United States of America If he had n,
other record than that magnificent on,
he made during the war he would b.